Tom Brady, the oldest active player in the NFL, is the only current football star still competing in his 40s.
Now, Brady, 44, is sharing his career lessons and personal anecdotes in the new ESPN+ docuseriesMan in the Arena:Tom Brady.
PEOPLE has an exclusive first look of the debut episode, streaming on Tuesday, which follows the beginning of Brady’s career with the New England Patriots after he was the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.
“A lot of the times when we were working out and doing certain things, Tom was working out with the defense. And we noticed that he was always working,” says retired Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, who was Brady’s teammate from 2000 to 2005.
“At that time, he’s justTom Brady— backup, you know, second or third-string quarterback,” McGinest remembers.
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Recalling his early days with the Patriots, Brady says he had to put in more work and dedication than any of his teammates.
“Working hard is a very sustainable trait, a part of your character. If you don’t have that, at some point, the talent does wear off,” the seven-time NFL champion shares.
“You’re drafted based on your talent or your potential but the sustainable part about talent and potential is working hard. Guys who were ahead of me were always physically way more gifted than me. I had to make up a lot of ground physically in order to catch them,” Brady explains.
After spending his rookie season on the bench, Brady’s first official game didn’t happen until Patriots star quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered a near-fatal injury in the second week of the 2001 season. The mid-game tackle on Bledsoe, which caused his lung to collapse and bleed internally, led to backup Brady becoming the team’s starter.
Along with McGinest, Brady would go on to win three Super Bowl championships. And during his 20 total years with the Patriots, Brady would win three more Super Bowl rings for a total of six championships as well as five Super Bowl MVP awards.
Tom Brady.Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Currently in his 22nd NFL season, Brady, who has appeared in nine Super Bowls, is applying that same work ethic in his second year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last season, he led the franchise to Super Bowl LV and won his seventh ring.
“Along the way, I think we created a docuseries that’s not just anchored in the reflections of the most accomplished QB in NFL history, but really a masterclass in leadership and the pursuit of greatness. I’m biased, but I love everything about this series,” says Chopra, who previously worked with Brady on the 2018 Facebook Watch seriesTom vs Time.
Man in the Arena:Tom Bradypremieres Tuesday on ESPN+, with new episodes posting weekly on Tuesdays.
source: people.com
